The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has officially solidified its commitment to data-driven decision-making and enhanced service delivery by signing two crucial agreements. These landmark collaborations are with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the SERVICOM Office, designed to foster stronger synergy in leveraging accurate data for the ultimate goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Nigerians.

During the signing ceremony, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director General of the NHIA, underscored the profound importance of precise and reliable data. He articulated, “It is often said that anything that matters is measured, and anything that is measured matters.” Dr. Ohiri emphasized that the NHIA's work is critical as it deeply impacts the lives and well-being of every household in Nigeria. He further elaborated on the NHIA's mission, stating, “Our mission is to bring Nigerians out of health poverty and ensure they have financial access to health. And it is therefore imperative that we have very credible frameworks for not just assessing the impact of what we’re doing on the lives of the average Nigerian, but that this is consistently measured and brought to the fore in our daily discourse in national developments.”

Echoing these sentiments, Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician General and CEO of the National Bureau of Statistics, highlighted the transformative potential of this partnership. He stated that “This integration will allow us to measure the true impact of health insurance on equity, poverty reduction, and accessibility to affordable and quality health care for the Nigerian citizens.” Mr. Adeniran also noted that the collaboration would extend to advancing research analysis to help both organizations fulfill their mandates. Furthermore, he reaffirmed the NBS's unwavering dedication to ethical data management and transparency, asserting, “As the custodian of official statistics, NBS reaffirms its unwavering commitment to data privacy, confidentiality, and integrity throughout the collaboration. We adhere to the highest ethical and statistical standards and guarantee that the public and our development partners can trust the resulting figures.”

This strategic alliance between the NHIA, NBS, and SERVICOM Office signifies a shared commitment to fostering evidence-based planning, bolstering accountability across the health sector, and promoting citizen-centric service delivery. Ultimately, these collaborative efforts are poised to significantly advance Nigeria’s national agenda towards comprehensive Universal Health Coverage.